[What is the place of "selective thyroid gland resection" in surgery of benign nodular struma].

Remnants after "classic" Subtotal Thyroidectomy are of constant size in constant position. "Selective" thyroidectomy intends to remove all nodules, but to save normal tissue--irrespective of their localization. From July 1985 to Dec. 1989 in 48.5% of 1124 thyroid lobes sel. surgery was performed, in 27.8% subtotal, in 23.8% total lobectomy. Primary postop. recurrent lar. palsy occurred in 1.3% after sel., 1.0% after subt. and 2.7% after total lobectomy. 90% of primary r.l.n.p.'s were transient--after sel. lobectomy only one persistend (0.2%). Hypocalcemia: 0.7% after sel., 1.4% after subt. thyroidectomy. Besides better quality and quantity of remnants selective thyroidectomy is supported by low rate of complications.